Automatic crossing gate



Maylg, 1931. G POLAK 1,806,497

AUTOMATI C CROSSING GATE Filed Sept. 17. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 19, 1931. G. PoLAK 1,806,497

AUTOMATIC CROSSING GATE Filed sept. 17, 1930 3 sheets-Sheet 2 u 'l 0 v I., M f6 47 l ll 'E//f l I is l 26 @arzzaz 26 INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 19, 1931. G. POLAK 1,806,497

AUTOMATIC CROSSING GATE Filed Sept. 17, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 19, 1931 AUNTED STT PATENT OFFCE GABRIEL P01-AK, OF FOREST CITY, PENNSYLVAN 1A; HELEN POLAK, ADMINISTRATRIX OF SAID GABRIEL POLAK, DECEASED, ASSGNOPU OF THRTY-FIVE ONE-HUN- DREDTHS TO JOHN FARKAS AUTOMATIC CROSSING GATE Application filed September 17, 1930. Serial No. 482,620.

This invention relates to automatic crossing gates, the general object of the invention being toprovide a motor for raising and lowering the gates, with means whereby a train approaching the crossing will close the circuit of the motor to cause the motor to lower the gates after which the circuit is broken so thatthe gates will remain in lowered position, and means beyond the crossing and operated by the train, after passing the crossing, for closing the circuit of the motor and causing the same to raise the gates.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby a train approaching the crossing on a second track will cause the gates to remainin lowered position after they have been lowered by a train on the first track so that the train on said first track will not raise the gates. Y

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters `denote like or corresponding `parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a railroad crossing equipped with the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through the crossing.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the housing containing the motor and the means operated thereby, the section being on the line 3-3 of Figure 4.

`Figure 4e is a sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View through the housing which supports the train operated mechanism.

Figure 6 is asectional view through the train operated mechanism at the far side `of the crossing. i

Figure 7 is a sectional view through the magnet operated latch links.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the circuits.

Figure 9 is a view showing an adjustable contact member on a train.

in these drawings the numeral 1 indicates a shaft arranged at one side of the crossing A of the tracks B and B, the shaft having its ends extending into the housings 2 and 3 arranged adjacent the crossing beyond the tracks and having their lower portions` embedded in the ground. Each housing is provided with an upright part 2 in the upper end of which is journalled a shaft il to which a gate 5 is connected, the gate extending through a curved slot 6 in the top part of the upright portion of the housing. Sprockets 7 are placed on the shaft 1 and sprockets S on the shafts Il, and chains 9 pass over the sprockets so that the rotary motion of the shaft 1 is communicated to the shafts d and thus the gates will be raised and lowered by the movement of the shaft 1. The shaft 1 passes through a conduit 10 which is einbedded in the ground under the tracks. A. motor M is arranged in the lower part of the housing 2 and has a worm 11 on its shaft which engages a worm gear 12 fastened to a stud shaft 13 journalled in the housing 2. rlhis worin gear is formed with the semicircular internal gear 14 meshing with a pinion' 15 on the shaft 1, and a second semi-circular gear 16 is connected with the worm gear 12 for meshing with a second pinion 17 on the shaft 1. The gears 11i and 16 are oppositely arranged with the gear 14 having its teeth formed on a flange 1st of the gear 12. 'lhus the gear 1i during the rotation of the gear 12 will turn the shaft 1 a half turn in one direction and then the gear 16 will turn the shaft 1 a half turn in the opposite direction.

A housing 18 is sunk in the track B a suitable distance from the crossing so that the mechanism in this housing will be operated by a train approaching the crossing and a similar housing 18 is arranged in the track B in front of the crossing so that it will be operated by a train approaching the crossing from this track B. Housings 19 and 19 are sunk in the tracks B and B at the far sides ing andis adapted to be depressed by a wheel` carrying projection 21 on the cowcatcheror other part of a train'approachiiig the crossing. The vtreavdle is normally ld in raised position by a weight 22 and the treadle has a depending arm 23 thereon which carries a roller 24. A switch arm 25 is pivoted in each f oi the housings 18 and 18 andis normally is lowered.

kthe Vterminals 34 and 35 so that the 19 and 19 and their interior parts are the sameas the housings 18 and 18, except that heldin raised position by a saringp26 and when in' raisedy position, tl is a "ni will engage the roller 24. A magnet 27 is located ineachhousing and is v.adapted lto hold thc Vswitch arm in loweredpositionwhen the inagnet'is energized. A. pair oftermmsls 28 andl 291s arranged in each o-'the housings 18 and 18 and these terminals will be engaged bythe contacts 30 on the switch arm when the. arm

Each of the housings 19'and l9vis proilided with treadlejpart 36 carrying the roller bearing arm 3l, and a spring actuated arm 32 isiarranged in each oit `these housings. Each arm carries the contacts 33 engaging a) c; housings the housings 19 and 19 do, not have the magnets 27 therein. Each housing'l9 and 19 `is provided with a magnetic latch for holding the arm 32 in lowered position, this latch consisting of a magnet 36 and a core 37 which is held in either projected or contracted position .by the spring diaphragm member 38. A sliding latch member 39 is arranged at the outer end of the core and is normally held projected by spriiigs'40.v -Thus as the arin- 32 is lowered by the depressionfotv the treadlef30 by a train, it will cause the latch member 38 to move inwardly as the beveled end of the arm 32 engages t-he beveled part ot the latch member and then the spring'40 will project the latch member over the end of thearm'32 and, hold the arm inv lowered position with its 33 engaging the terminals 34v contacts and 35.

Y A curved switch arm 41 is attached kto the gate'shaft 4 which is associated with' thev housing which contains the 'motor `and this arm bridges the contacts 42 arranged in the 'toppartof the extension 2 ,of the housing 2 while the 'fate is in raised position, but whenf the-gate reaches lowered position, the armwill disengage the contacts. A contact 43 on the gate'also engages thecontact 44 in the extension 2 tion.V y. i

vA supply line a is connected with'each of the switch arms in the four housingsf-A conductor 7) connects the terminal 28, in the casing 18 with the part 3,6 of the magnet V36 ywhen the gate-is in raised posiand a conductor 7) connects the contact 28 of the housing 18 with the 36 of the also connected with the terminal 34 in the'V housing 19. A Vconductor connects the terminal 35v inthe housing 19 with the contact 44 in the extension 2lot the housing 2 and with the terminal 35 vinhousing 1.9. A conductor d connect-s the conductor with the part 36 ofthe magnet 36 in housing 19, and the parts 36 and 36 of the'inagnet 36 in housing 19 are connected bythe conductors g with the negative line a., A conductor 7L connects the conductor d. with the switch composed of the parts 43 and 44 and with the part 36 of the magnet 36in the housing 19. A conductor z' connects this part 36 with the conductor o and 'aconductor j connects the part 36 in housing 19 with the negative line a. i y

F rom the foregoing it'will be seenthat a train approachingthe crossing on track B will engage and depressV the treadle .of the housing 18 so that the arm 2510i `said housing is forced downwardly against the magnet 27, andthe terminals 28 and 29. This will closel the circuit from the supply line a through the armj 25, terminal 29, magnet 27, conductor c, the switch composed of the parts 41 and 42, conductorsd and c through the motor to' the negative a. Thus thermo- 'tor will start up `and the gear 14, meshing with the gearl, .willcause the shaft 1 to lower the gates. As lsoon as the arm 41 rides oliE the contacts 42, which happens when the gate reaches lowered position, the circuit will be broken so that the .motor comes to rest and as the rnagnet'isl de-energized,-the spring-will return the arm 25 to open position. When said arm'is lowered,its engagement with the terminal 28T will close the circuit to the part 36 of magnet 36 in housing 19so' that the core 37 in said magnet will be moved outwardly; The trainlthen proceeds across the crossing with the gates lowered andafterl passing` the-crossing, lthe train will engage the treadleof thel housing 19, thus lowering thev same andcausing the arm y32 of this treadleto engage the terminals 34 and 45 andas the armpasses underthe latch 39, said latch will belirst retracted vand then projected by itsspring to vhold the arm the conductor el and the terminal34 so'that the motor will begin to operate and thus cause the gear 16 to engage the pinion 15 on the shaft 1, whichwill rotate the shaft in an opposite direction and cause the raising of the gates.

When the gates are raised, one of them will cause the closing of the switch composed of the parts 43 and 44 and as the arm 32 is resting on the terminal 35 in the housing 19, the circuit through the conductor f and said switch will be closed so that the current will pass through the conductor h, through the part 36 of the magnet 36 in the housing 19 and through the conductor y' to the negative a. Thus said part 36 is energized so that the core 37 will be retracted and the arm 32 in the housing 19 released and thus the circuit of the motor will be broken.

A train approaching the crossing on track B will depress the treadle of the housing 18', which closes the gates as before described, and sets the latch means in the housing 19, and then when this train passes across, it will depress the treadle in the housing 19 to cause the motor to open the gates, after which the circuit will be broken, as before described. If a train on track B, for instance, closes the gates and passes the crossing, and another train is approaching the crossing on track B, the gates will remain lowered as the depression of the treadle of the housing 18 by the second train will move the latch means in the housing 19 to releasing position so that the motor will not start to move the gates to open position when the train on track B passes over the housing 19. The circuit of the motor will not be closed until the train on track B passes over the housing 19. i

A lamp C is placed on each gate and these lamps are electrically connected with the supply lines a and a by the conductors k. A post D having a forked upper end is provided for supporting each gate when in lowered position.

In some cases, it is advisable to provide means whereby the operating member on the train can be moved to inoperative position when desired, and this can be done through any suitable means from the cab, but Figure 9 shows the member 21 which carries the roller 21 as slidably supported from a part of the train and having a handle at its upper end whereby the member can be raised against the action of the spring 21 so that a pin X can be passed through holes in the parts to hold the member 21 in raisedposition and thus prevent the wheel 21 from engaging the treadles.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts,

provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a double track and its crossing, gates for controlling the crossing, a shaft for operating both gates, a motor, means for connecting the motor with the shaft to cause the shaft to lower the gates at one operation of the motor and to raise the gates in another operation of the motor, a circuit for the motor, means operated by a train approaching the crossing on either track for closing the circuit of the motor, means for breaking the circuit when the gates are lowered, train operated means on each track beyond the crossing for closing the circuit to the motor to raise the gates, means for breaking the circuit when the gates are raisedmand means for preventing the gates being raised by a train on one track when a train on the other track is approaching the crossing.

2. An automatic crossing gate comprising a pivoted gate, a motor for operating the same, a treadle on the track in front of the crossing a treadle on the track beyond the crossing, said treadles being operated by a train on the track, a circuit for the motor including switches closed by the depression of each treadle and a switch on the gate opened when the gate is in lowered position, whereby a train approaching the crossing will depress the first treadle and close the circuit to the motor to cause the motor to lower the gate after which the switch on the gate will break the circuit, magnetic latch means for holding the second treadle in lowered position when depressed by a train leaving the crossing, the lowering of said second treadle closing the circuit to the motor to cause the same to raise the gate and a circuit connected with the latch means and closed by the raising of the gate to move the latch means to releasing position.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

GABRIEL POLAK. 

